Phoenix, AZ - October 14, 2007

Well, not much has changed in Phoenix. Still hot and dry. Larry had some lab work done and then we drove up to Lake Pleasant (20 miles north of Phoenix). We were very lucky and got a RV site with a view of the entire lake. The lake was very low. After we were there for two days, the winds came up. 30-40 mph winds that shook the RV constantly. That was about the time that the fires started in California. We watched the new constantly since we have two sons in El Cajon (San Diego) and a brother and sister-in-law in Lake Arrowhead. We would get emails from the boys that their cars were packed and ready to go. Then Bob and Lorna had to evacuate. We thought the wind would never stop. We couldn't even imagine tryinng to fight a fire in wind gusts up to 60 mph.

I had left my flips (thongs) out side and the wind blew one of them away. I went out side one morning to walk around and see if I could find it. I started walking toward the lake and suddenly something moved. It was a little ground squirrel. Out of no where, came a hawk - wings folded in - diving down toward the ground where the squirrel had been. The hawk was about 3 feet away from me. It was an incredible sight. The hawk flew up in the sky again and circled right above me. Oh no! Am I next? I didn't find my flip. However, the next day the man next to us was walking to the trash. On his way, he bent over and picked up my shoe. I just happened to be looking out our window when I saw him with my shoe. I went out and said, "wait, you have my shoe." I told him that I had been looking all over for it and thanked him for finding it.

We drove back to Phoenix and went to all our doctor appointments. We both came out with flyng colors. Found out that the fires were settling down and all the family members and their houses were OK.

Left Phoenix and drove to Algodonas to have our teeth cleaned. Larry was relieved that he didn't need another implant. Yeah!!! On to San Diego to spend some time with Rick, Doug and their families.